Eric Clapton Movies

Dan Aykroyd and John Landis teamed to script this sequel to The Blues Brothers (1980), which they also co-scripted. With Landis once again at the helm as director, Aykroyd re-creates his role of rhythm-and-blues man Elwood Blues, and the film's numerous R&B performances and production numbers include Aretha Franklin singing her classic "Respect". Released from prison after serving 18 years for the havoc depicted in the first film, Elwood learns that while he was serving time, his pal Jake Blues (John Belushi) has died, as did their hi-de-ho music mentor Curtis (Cab Calloway). Times have changed, but the blues beat goes on. Elwood visits Mother Mary Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman), who runs the orphanage where Elwood and Jake were raised, and she puts 10-year-old Buster (J. Evan Bonifant) in Elwood's care. Seeking a loan, Elwood visits Curtis' son, Cabel Chamberlain (Joe Morton), and Buster picks Cabel's pocket. Now, 18 years after the original "mission from God," Elwood attempts to reorganize the Blues Brothers Band, beginning with bartender Mighty Mack McTeer (John Goodman) as a replacement for Jake. With the Russian Mafia in hot pursuit, Elwood, Mack, and Buster head cross-country, locating band members as they travel pell-mell toward a scheduled battle of the bands in Louisiana where the Blues Brothers Band competes with the Lousiana Gator Boys Band (Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Dr. John, Travis Tritt, Steve Winwood, Clarence Clemmons, Isaac Hayes). Filmed in Toronto and Chicago, this movie reunited Aykroyd and Goodman, who were seen previously in the 1996 video, The Return of the Blues Brothers, a performance taped January 24, 1995 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. Elsewhere, the Blues Brothers are kept alive in a half-dozen or so websites, such as the House of Blues, and live stage productions. In England, the stage show A Tribute to the Blues Brothers began in 1991. At the request of Aykroyd and Judy Belushi, the title of that production was changed to The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers. With various cast members in the roles of Jake and Elwood (Con O'Neill, Warwick Evans, Brad Henshaw, Simon Foster), the show toured Britain throughout the 1990s. The "original Blues Brother" (who coached John Belushi and originated some of the blues raps used by Belushi) is Curtis Salgado (of the Robert Cray Band). One cast member of Blues Brothers 2000, bluesman Junior Wells, the last of the great Chicago harmonica players, died in January 1998, only days before the film was released. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Carl Perkins was one of the first guitar heroes of the rockabilly revolution of the 1950s, mixing country & western with R&B and creating such classic hits as "Blue Suede Shoes," "Honey Don't," "Boppin' the Blues," and many more. Carl Perkins and Friends: Blue Suede Shoes - A Rockabilly Session preserves a special concert staged for television in which Perkins sits in with a handful of friends and admirers, including George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Rosanne Cash, and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats. Perkins' longtime friends Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis also make guest appearances. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In the 1980s, Eric Clapton went from being one of the most respected blues-based guitarists in rock to becoming a bona-fide pop star, and this home video release features videos for twelve of his biggest latter-day hits. Selections include "Tears In Heaven", "Wonderful Tonight", "Forever Man", "Change The World", "My Father's Eyes", "Running On Faith", and more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Adapted by Whitley Strieber from his book about his alleged contacts with aliens, Communion dramatizes a story all the more compelling for the author's insistence that it is true, complemented by Christopher Walken's enigmatic performance as Strieber. The film begins in October 1985, as Strieber is living in New York City with his wife Anne (Lindsay Crouse) and son Andrew (Joel Carlson). He is hunting for new book ideas without making much headway. He spends his days pacing around his apartment, thinking out loud or videotaping himself as he improvises bits of dialogue. It is soon decided that a vacation is in order, so, with their friends Alex (Andreas Katsulas) and Sara (Terri Hanauer), the Striebers head for their cabin in Upstate New York. In the middle of the night, an illumination descends on the cabin and surrounding forest, causing Strieber to wake up abruptly. In the semi-darkness of the cabin, he is able to make out a long face with narrow, tear-shaped eyes quietly observing him from a corner of the room. The next morning, he has forgotten -- or been made to forget -- the whole experience. He even shrugs off Alex's and Sarah's concern about "seeing lights" outside their bedroom window, claiming to have slept through the event. Back in New York, it becomes evident to Strieber and his family that something unusual did happen. He begins to have powerful hallucinations, and, after an inconclusive medical examination, he is encouraged by his wife to seek professional help from psychiatrist Janet Duffy (Frances Sternhagen). During hypnotic regression therapy, Strieber's lifelong contact with the "visitors" is brought to light, as well as the details of his more recent encounters. Still unable to accept these revelations, he returns to the cabin alone and finally communicates with the visitors, discovering that, although they are unable to reveal their true identity, their purpose may be to act as agents of personal transformation for himself and for others. An interesting and uneven film, Communion is bolstered considerably by Christopher Walken, whose role in the film, though appropriate for the subject matter, quickly transforms into a thesis on his own eccentricities as an actor. ~ Anthony Reed, All Movie Guide

In 2005, after nearly four decades apart, the rock trio Cream (Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce) reunited for a series of shows at London's world famous venue the Royal Albert Hall. This concert film includes songs from various nights and offers renditions of classics like "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," "Crossroads," "Politician," "I'm So Glad," and over a dozen more. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

This tuneful documentary video chronicles the brief history of the first pop music "supergroup" and features interviews with members Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. Also featured are comments by other major musicians who were influenced by Cream including John Mayall, Robert Cray, Pete Brown and members of Masters of Reality. Featured songs include: "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," "Spoonful," "Strange Brew," "I Feel Free," "Toad," "I'm So Glad," "Crossroads," and "Sitting on Top of the World." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The British government's nuclear policy is in for a royal drubbing in the tense BBC TV miniseries Edge of Darkness. Bob Peck stars as London police detective Ron Craven, whose political-activist daughter is murdered right before his eyes. Meticulously following the trail of clues, Craven uncovers a dark conspiracy involving the government and the powerful American CEO of a nuclear power plant. Joe Don Baker and a young Joanne Whalley co-star. The six-part series became a cult favorite in England, where it originally aired in November and December of 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This concert film captures guitar legend Eric Clapton performing a 198 gig. Assisted by fellow musicians Phil Collins, Greg Phillinganes, and Nathan East, the man delivers nine songs that are a combination of classics like "Whilte Room," "Layla," and Sunshine of Your Love," and new songs off his then current album August ("Miss You," "Tearing Us Apart," and "Run.") ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

In 1979 Eric Clapton put his band in a three-carriage train originally at the disposal of Hermann Goering during the Nazi years in Germany, and traveled from town to town on the Continent, from one concert to the next. It was an easy way to transport and house the band and its equipment, and it offered ample opportunity for interviews, group interactions, and filming. Clapton talks about his music and his work and peaks the viewer's interest with stories about musicians like Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison. Interviews are balanced with performances by Muddy Waters, Elton John, and George Harrison, as well as Clapton and his band in full concert. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Shot at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX, this concert film features rock legend Eric Clapton and a host of other musicians performing before a live audience. Among the songs viewers will find in Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival are Clapton's own "Cocaine," Robert Cray's "Time Makes Two," Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way," John Mayer's "City Love," and many others. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide